The fear of the Lord
Last night we had a nice discussion on the fear of the Lord. We compared 1Jn. 4:17,18)Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.) with Rev. 14:7 (Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.)
Ay______ said the two fears were for two different audiences, 1John for believers, and Revelation for an unbelieving world approaching judgment. Al_____ said that there is a healthy and an unhealthy fear that these texts, and so many other Bible verses speak of. D______ agreed with Ay______ with a minor difference (which I am sorry I forget what it was! Forgive me D______!) I thought it could be similar to Ay______, but in the context of growth in relationship and discipline; that over time, that fear lessens as we are more and more surrendered to God’s will as Gal. 4:1,2 and 3:24,25 allude to.
We brought up Ps. 103:13, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.” We didn’t spend a lot of time on it, but I think it says a lot. S____ (his son) fears D______. I’ve seen it when he gets corrected. But, S____ doesn’t live in fear of his daddy. All the time I hear him start his statements or questions to D______ with “Nana,” which means “Beloved.”
Even though he fears his father, he loves him dearly. And while he always loves his father, all along the way, as correction is needed, S____ fears his dad. He sees his father’s displeasure and doesn’t like it. He wants to know that his beloved father is happy with him.
God has programmed that into children, and it is a necessary and beautiful trait encoded into every living thing. Its in the animals also.
Its similar to the relationship between husband and wife. Paul counseled, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Eph. 5:33). There is love in the woman toward her husband, along with the fear. The fear is there because women are the weaker vessels—not in brain power or will power. But their weakness is in the fact that they feel the need for acceptance and togetherness stronger than men. God put that in us. The mother needs to be extra protective. But there is a place for the father’s objectiveness and strength when it comes to disciplining and law.
We know from Patriarchs and Prophets, that when Abraham needed to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God, he knew that if he had awaken Sarah, she would not have let it happen. Her motherly she-bear love would have torn Isaac from Abraham’s arms and maybe even hurt Abraham. She definitely would have prevented the lesson to the world that this sacrifice was to show. Christ would not have been able to say, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (Jn. 8:56).
Women are the weaker vessel in this aspect. And children even more so. Likewise, we should fear when we feel our Father is distant and His acceptance is not felt because the Holy Spirit is muffled because all the ways we’ve indulged in sin. We should fear that. The slide into oblivion is so subtle. We should fear that. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1Cor. 10:12).
As we read last night, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, … they shall [not] enter into My rest.” (Heb. 4:1-3).
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.) with Rev. 14:7 (Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.)
Ay______ said the two fears were for two different audiences, 1John for believers, and Revelation for an unbelieving world approaching judgment. Al_____ said that there is a healthy and an unhealthy fear that these texts, and so many other Bible verses speak of. D______ agreed with Ay______ with a minor difference (which I am sorry I forget what it was! Forgive me D______!) I thought it could be similar to Ay______, but in the context of growth in relationship and discipline; that over time, that fear lessens as we are more and more surrendered to God’s will as Gal. 4:1,2 and 3:24,25 allude to.
We brought up Ps. 103:13, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.” We didn’t spend a lot of time on it, but I think it says a lot. S____ (his son) fears D______. I’ve seen it when he gets corrected. But, S____ doesn’t live in fear of his daddy. All the time I hear him start his statements or questions to D______ with “Nana,” which means “Beloved.”
Even though he fears his father, he loves him dearly. And while he always loves his father, all along the way, as correction is needed, S____ fears his dad. He sees his father’s displeasure and doesn’t like it. He wants to know that his beloved father is happy with him.
God has programmed that into children, and it is a necessary and beautiful trait encoded into every living thing. Its in the animals also.
Its similar to the relationship between husband and wife. Paul counseled, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” (Eph. 5:33). There is love in the woman toward her husband, along with the fear. The fear is there because women are the weaker vessels—not in brain power or will power. But their weakness is in the fact that they feel the need for acceptance and togetherness stronger than men. God put that in us. The mother needs to be extra protective. But there is a place for the father’s objectiveness and strength when it comes to disciplining and law.
We know from Patriarchs and Prophets, that when Abraham needed to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God, he knew that if he had awaken Sarah, she would not have let it happen. Her motherly she-bear love would have torn Isaac from Abraham’s arms and maybe even hurt Abraham. She definitely would have prevented the lesson to the world that this sacrifice was to show. Christ would not have been able to say, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (Jn. 8:56).
Women are the weaker vessel in this aspect. And children even more so. Likewise, we should fear when we feel our Father is distant and His acceptance is not felt because the Holy Spirit is muffled because all the ways we’ve indulged in sin. We should fear that. The slide into oblivion is so subtle. We should fear that. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1Cor. 10:12).
As we read last night, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, … they shall [not] enter into My rest.” (Heb. 4:1-3).
posted by David | 3:47 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home